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Welsh plan new 'polluter pays' law on asbestos

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Pontypridd AM Mick Antoniw, has introduced a bill in the Welsh aimed at introducing a law to force businesses and insurers to foot NHS medical bills for asbestos victims. Mr Antoniw is a former solicitor who represented union members with asbestos-related diseases. He wants the Welsh government to have the power to recover an estimated £2-3million a year spent treating asbestos patients. Speaking after formally laying the bill before the assembly, Mr Antoniw said: "This Bill recognises the tragic legacy and impact of asbestos disease on many Welsh workers and families and recognises the considerable cost to the NHS in Wales, of treating the disease. The Bill will enable the Welsh government to recover the cost of the medical treatment in cases where legal liability for the disease has been established. It is intended that the funds recovered will be used to provide additional assistance to asbestos victims and their families." He added 'If you have an employer or insurer who has accepted that they are liable and they are to blame, then why is it they will pick up costs for the private sector but not the public sector?' Because health is a delegated matter the Welsh Assembly can make decisions on this matter and it is hoped that, if the bill is passed, other parts of the UK will follow suit. The NHS already recovers the cost of treating the victims of occupational injuries.

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